DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER IN GREYMOUTH.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 929, 20 February 1872, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER IN GREYMOUTH.

Two deputations waited upon the Hon. Mr lux, on Friday, J*ebruary 16j at GlfiMer's Hotel; Greymouth. . • :Thd,fijpßt wee the •Boruagh Council, headed by tlio -Mayor/ accompanied' by aW Hhe "members. The' Major c«i' "pressed the general'satisfaction of the public at-Mr Fox's visit at such a critical period, They merely touched upon Municipal matters, as a flepiita'. tion, from the citmjna would shortly wait upon him. , Mr. (Fox, after some preliminaries said ho had been iu communication with his colleagues, and Mr lieoves, who was now Kesidunt Minister of Public Works for the Middle Island,

would; be/ % over hero soon, and he thought that no definite arrangements would be come to until his arrival, lie was to leave Christchurch for Hokitika nest Tuesday; meantime he (Mr Fox) would visit Reefton, and if necessary would return here; and he hoped that when they met again they would be able to have everything definitely arranged for the carrying out of the whole scheme of permanent works. He regretted that no member of the Government had previously visited this district, as he thought it would have been better for both if the Government had a better knowledge of the circumstances and requirements of the'mining interest of the island j but they were no longer in that unfortunate position. Ever since the present Government came into office, they had beeu short-handed.'and what with th« occasional absence of Ministers in England and elsewhere, the Ministers who i.miained in the colony had as it were been working double turns. But now they had added to their number by the addition of Mr Reeves, who would act chiefly as ipter for Public Works, and he hoped this would be means of bringing the Government into closer relations with interests which formerly were beyond its knowledge. Mr Haughton. who had been appointed Secretary for the Goldfields, was well known on the goldfields of the colony, as well as in his capacity of member of the Otago Provincial Council and member of the Assembly. He was thoroughly acquainted with all the wants of a mining community, and it was expected that his appointment would have a very beneficial effect throughout the colony. .With regard to the opening up of the country, he thought the formation of the tww large roads to connect GreymOuth and Westport with Reefton would have an enormous effect for good on this place, by opening up a large track of agricultural and mining country.- All that was wanted to make this a thriving place was individual energy and individual capital, aud it appeared to him that both we're' here. With coal and gold pouring into Greymouth, he honed to five to see it one of the most prosperous cities in New Zealand. The deputation then withdrew. About an hour later, a deputation of' the citizens, numbering over one hundred representatives of all classes of the community, waited upon Mr Fox in the large ball of Gilmer's hotel. , Mr Newton read a long; address, and Mr Johnston, Town Surveyor, a report to the Chairman of the Inangahua Road Committee, to which ]&l'r Fox replied.in full—his reply occupying a column and a quarter of the local paper.